Dales Marine Services

Dales Marine Services Secures First Contracts For Leith Dry Dock
23 March 2010

Research vessel Scotia berths following facility upgrade

Dales Marine Services has dry-docked its first vessel at Leith since taking a long-term lease of the facility earlier this year and recently completing an upgrade programme.

Marine Scotland's fishery research vessel, Scotia, managed by Marr Vessel Management, entered the Imperial Dock in mid-March for annual dry-docking, including engine overhauls, paintwork, and general maintenance over a 10-day period before undergoing sea trials and then mobilisation in Aberdeen.

Two other vessels are already booked for Leith – Sartor Offshore's standby ship, Ocean Searcher, and a Gulf Offshore platform supply vessel, Volstad Viking. A fourth vessel has also been provisionally booked.

Michael Milne, Director and General Manager of the Aberdeen-headquartered ship repair and maintenance specialist, said: "The new lease of life and the positive start to operations are a great way to mark the centenary of the dock, built in 1910. The length and depth of the facility, along with the availability of lay-by berths, means we can increase the size and range of vessels handled, with the facility also complementing operations at our dry dock in Aberdeen."

Dales Marine has invested around £250,000 in an upgrade and overhaul, including refurbishing the gates, a new sealing arrangement, piling to form a coffer dam, replacing all wood on the keel blocks, fabricating new, adjustable steel shores and removing around 3,000 tonnes of silt. The 168m x 21.3m x 7.7m Imperial Dock can take two vessels simultaneously and the facility also incorporates a workshop and offices.

With 26 vessels booked into the Aberdeen dry dock by 11 operators so far for this year, 65% of annual capacity there is accounted for.

Part of the Dales Group, based in Peterhead, Dales Marine was established there in 1987, moving in 1991 to Aberdeen where it has leased the two acre harbour site and 112m x 21m x 6.5m dry dock since 2004. It also has a workshop at Montrose and carries out projects alongside at various ports.